The left-handed slam after he burst through the Brooklyn Nets’ defense and to the rim that put the Indiana Pacers up, 106-104, with a couple minutes left. The step-back 3 he hit with 39.3 seconds left to seal the Pacers’ 114-106 victory.

Victor Oladipo’s signature moments from the fourth quarter of Friday’s win did more than just help deliver his teammates a 21st victory on the season and end a frustrating two-game losing streak marred by officiating miscues. The star shooting guard’s play ensured his team would continue to be the only squad in the NBA that hasn’t lost three-straight games since the new-year turned back on Jan. 1.

“Our goal is to try to figure it out after you drop two games,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “Try to figure out and correct it, by that third game. We’ve been able to do that this season. That’s always been a goal of ours. A lot of NBA teams have that goal. You try to go through a season without dropping three games straight but, you try to figure it out before that third loss.”

As of all games final Dec. 21, five different teams owned active losing streaks that spanned at least three games: the Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks (4), New York Knicks (4) and Memphis Grizzlies (5).

The Celtics even held a meeting with players and coaches in the immediate aftermath of the team’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

“This season in particular, not really,” said Pacers center Myles Turner, when asked if that’s been needed with his team this season. “In the past, sometimes that’s happened here. I feel like just as a professional organization if you lose three in a row, you got to take a step back and see what we can do better. It’s necessary at times, but you don’t want to overreact either.”

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The Pacers haven't lost three games in a row all season long.
Jordan Guskey, IndyStar

Because even though no team wants to lose three games in a row, let alone two or even a single game, it happens to the league’s best. The Golden State Warriors lost four in a row earlier this season and, going back to contests starting Jan. 1 of the 2017-18 season, lost three in a row in March. The Celtics have three sets of three-straight losses in that span and a four-game skid.

The Houston Rockets own two four-game losing streaks and a three-game losing streak this season. And the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder started the season with streaks of three- and four losses, respectively.

The Indiana Pacers haven't lost three games in a row since the start of the 2018 calendar year.(Photo: Nat Newell)

The Philadelphia 76ers’ streak is the one that comes closest to the Pacers, with a three-game losing streak from Jan. 28-31. Indiana’s last streak of at least three-straight came from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3 when the Pacers lost five consecutive contests.

“We just try to figure it out,” said Turner, echoing his coach. “We know it’s a long season, but it’s just a goal of ours not to lose three in a row.”

The Pacers have four games left this calendar year against the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Hawks again. Each team is either at .500 or owns a losing record, so it’s likely the Pacers will be favored to keep their streak alive.

“That’s our goal,” McMillan said. “We try to challenge ourselves like (against Brooklyn) to try to get it right and get a win and we was able to do that.”

Tyreke Evans’ availability unclear

The Pacers could be without Tyreke Evans when they face the Wizards.

McMillan said Saturday the team’s backup shooting guard, who’s averaging 10.2 points and three rebounds per game, would again be a game-time decision. Evans missed Indiana’s win against Brooklyn due to a bruised right knee, and there’s a chance the Pacers could go a similar route to handling Evans as they did Oladipo when they played it safe to ensure Oladipo returned ready to contribute.

“You have to look at it,” McMillan said. “We always take that in consideration and talk to the trainers and the player and see what’s best. We’re not going to force him or press him to come back until he’s healthy enough to where he can help us.”